Sun Dec 04, 2011 at 15:51:29 PM PST
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| Via Barbara O'Brien's blog, I found the follow-up article to Why I ditched Buddhism, which spurred discussion recently on BuddhaJones.
Science writer John Horgan explains why he doesn't dig Buddhism: |
| CherieHotsu :: Not digging Buddhism? |
Then there is the claim that contemplative practice will make us gentler, more humble and compassionate. In Zen and the Brain (MIT Press, 1998), the neurologist and Buddhist James Austin proposes that meditation and mindfulness erode neural regions underpinning our innate self-centeredness. But given the repulsive behavior over the past few decades of so many gurus - including Chogyam Trungpa, who was an alcoholic womanizer and bully - you could conclude that mystical knowledge leads to pathological narcissism rather than selflessness. Instead of shrinking to a point and vanishing, the mystic's ego may expand to infinity. Did Buddhism deflate the ego of Steve Job[s]?
Hrmm. Well, we certainly have seen our share of pathological narcissists in the Nichiren community.
What do you think about all this? Horgan's complete article can be read here. |
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